Home Visitor

SGA’s mission is to help children, families, and communities facing great challenges to realize their potential. SGA uses a proven and innovative method called the Cycle of Opportunity. This system is a continuum of comprehensive services that helps break the cycle of adversity and provide families with enough opportunity to change their lives and their communities. 

SGA’s Early Head Start Home-based program serves children 0-3 years within the city of Chicago through weekly home visits engaging both the caregiver and the child. Additionally, families participate in bi-monthly group socializations, parent trainings, governance, and field trips. As part of the research-based Head Start program, all children and their families receive wraparound services to ensure the healthy development and success of the child. The Health & Mental Health Specialist is responsible for monitoring all of the health physicals, hearing and vision screenings, developmental screenings, individual health plans, and follow up care for the children in the program. 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Child & Family Engagement

• Provide and maintain 90-minute home visits for 10 children and/or pregnant women on a weekly basis. Provide make up visits for those canceled by the program or by the Home Visitor
• Conduct at minimum 46 home visits for each child during the program year
• In cooperation with the parent, plans and implements developmentally appropriate home-based activities based on child’s assessment and identified family needs
• Demonstrate commitment to the process of developing and maintaining quality relationships with children and families.
• Complete weekly child observations and enter into COR
• Assist parents with understanding and implementing the Family Partnership Agreement 
• Complete developmental and social-emotional screenings using the ASQ-3, ASQ-SE and ESI-R tools according to screening schedule
• Complete hearing and vision screenings according to program schedule
• Complete Family Assessment, Nutrition Assessment and Family Goals according to program timelines
• Update Family Goals according to program schedule
• Follow up with family goals monthly and enter notes in Child Plus
• Refer and link parents to needed services
• In cooperation with the ERSEA Coordinator, implement protocols to address and follow up on chronic absenteeism
• Plans for child’s transition to Head Start or Chicago Public Schools in cooperation with parent, completes all transition activities, documentation and data entry
• Serve as an advocate for families and as a liaison between families, the program and the community
• Work for the recruitment of eligible families.
• Assist in identifying children with special needs and make the necessary referrals in collaboration with the Home Visiting Supervisor
• Report suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Encourage parent participation in the Parent Policy Committee meetings as well as group socializations and other events or trainings.

Administrative

• Complete required Child Plus and COR data entry, Parents As Teachers (PAT) lesson plans, Personal Visit Records and in-kind on a weekly basis.  
• Maintain and preserve a confidential family file.
• Participate in monthly reflective supervision with the Home Based Supervisor
• Participate in staffings and Family Child Reviews according to the program schedule
• Assist in planning and implementation of socializations 
• Participate in agency and grantee trainings, meetings and other events
• Contribute to the Agency’s efforts related to prevention and integrated service delivery with other community providers. Illustrates knowledge of the Agency’s Continuous Quality Improvement Activities. 
• Complete other duties as assigned.
• Participate in on-going training and staff development provided by the funding source, agency, consultants, workshops and conferences.
• Attend regularly scheduled agency and grantee meetings and trainings
• Integrate other components, i.e., health, nutrition, mental health, parent involvement into the home visit.
• Support and contribute to inter-system collaboration with other service providers to improve social service delivery systems.

Education:

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education
• A minimum of 12 ECE credit hours and/or a Home Visitor CDA
• Gateways ECE Level 4

Experience:

• Experience working with young children is preferred.
• At least two years of experience in the Early Head Start program is preferred
• Bilingual Spanish/English is preferred.

Other:

• Sensitivity to cultural diversity is required. Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals and community groups. 
• Must be able to make home visits to present, prospective and former clients in the clients’ own home.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  
• Ability to speak effectively before groups 
• Exercises discretion and independent judgment in executing tasks.
• Must demonstrate the ability to establish helping relationships with families of varying educational, experiential and socio-economic backgrounds and handle emergency and crisis situations.
• Ability to uphold the Head Start Program Performance Standards in the education, nutrition, health, and parent, family & community engagement components. 

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Competent in Microsoft Office tools and inputting services in an online database.
• Schedule may be flexible and may include some evening and weekends.
• Must have access to a vehicle, valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to remain stationary 50% of the time.
• Must be able frequently move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. 
• Must have a reliable, insured automobile 
• Ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and printer.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs.
• Constantly positions oneself to assist children during activities.
• Frequently moves desks, chairs, tables, easels, and children's toys. 
• At times may be required to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. for various program and event needs
• Frequently moves in outdoor weather conditions. 

Full Time Employee Benefits Package: 

• Health Insurance 
• HMO and PPO options
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Life Insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan 
• RTA Commuter Benefit

Time Off Eligible after 90 days

• 10 days accrued vacation 
• 10 days accrued sick 
• 2 Personal days

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time; this description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

This job description is subject to change at any time.